The Welsh Ambulance Service (WAST) has paid tribute to EMT Alan Haigh after he died in hospital on Tuesday 9th Feb.
Alan, and Emergency Medical Technician with 22 years’ service, is the third member of WAST staff to die having contracted Covid-19.
Alan, who was 59 and lived in Cwmduad, Carmarthenshire, joined the ambulance service in 1998 and worked for the non-emergency patient transport service in Newquay and Lampeter.
In 2008, he became an urgent care assistant and later qualified as an emergency medical technician, based in Carmarthen, Whitland and eventually Newquay.
Alan, who was originally from Farnborough, Hampshire, is survived by his wife Sian, sons Ryan, 26, and Colin, 30, and 17-week-old granddaughter Lucy.
Jason Killens, Chief Executive of the Welsh Ambulance Service, said:
“It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Alan Haigh, a popular colleague with more than two decades of service.
“Over the years, Alan helped hundreds if not thousands of people, many of whom would not be alive today if it were not for his skill and commitment as a clinician.
“Colleagues describe Alan as a ‘full of life’ character who loved to chat.
“He was a Manchester United fan and a car enthusiast, as well as a pillar of his community who organised quiz events at his local village hall.
“Alan’s loss will be sorely felt by everyone here at Team WAST, and we extend our deepest sympathies to his family.
“Our focus now is on supporting his family and bereaved colleagues at this difficult time, many of whom will be at work today and over the coming weeks continuing to provide care for those in need.”
Alan is the third Welsh Ambulance Service colleague lost to Covid-19 following the death last month of Paul Teesdale, a call handler for the non-emergency patient transport service, and the death in April of Gerallt Davies MBE, a paramedic in Cwmbwrla.
Stay up-to-date with more news from the front line by subscribing to our free newsletter. Subscribe by clicking HERE.
Got a story? Send your videos and pictures to contact@emergency-services.news You can also find us on Twitter @ES_News_
Before you go...
We need your help. As former emergency services & armed forces personnel, we pride ourselves on bringing you important, fast-moving and breaking news stories & videos which are free from the negative bias which is often directed at the emergency services & NHS by some sections of the mainstream media.
One of the reasons we started 'Emergency Services News' back in 2018 was because we became tired of reading badly informed stories about the emergency services & NHS which seemed only ever to highlight negative aspects of the job.
We want to be the unheard voice of the remarkable men and women who serve in the emergency services, NHS and armed forces. And with around 500k page views each month, we are getting there!
As income from ads, the mainstay source of income for most publishers, continues to decline; we need the help of you, our readers.
You can support emergency services news from as little as £1. It only takes a minute. Every contribution, however big or small, is vital for our future.
Please help us to continue to highlight the life-saving work of the emergency services, NHS and armed forces by becoming a supporter.
